Repair Service for Original Floorboards
Unearthing Beauty: Floorworks' Restoration Service for Original Pine Floorboards
The original victorian pine floorboards possess a unique character and warmth that can transform a house into a home. Often hidden beneath layers of carpet or other floor coverings for decades, these historical elements are increasingly being rediscovered and appreciated for their timeless beauty.
At Floorworks, a leading UK-based flooring company, we specialise in the meticulous restoration of this heritage, breathing new life into these authentic features and enhancing the value and appeal of your property.
When Can Floorboards Be Repaired?
The good news is that most damage to original pine floorboards is repairable! Our experienced team can effectively address a wide range of issues, allowing us to salvage and restore your existing flooring. Floorboards are typically good candidates for repair when they exhibit:
Surface Damage: Scratches, scuffs, small dents, or discolouration on the surface that haven't compromised the integrity of the board. These can often be removed through sanding.
Localised Rot or Pest Damage: If rot or insect damage is confined to a small area of a board and hasn't spread significantly. We can carefully remove the damaged floorboards and graft in new piece(s) of reclaimed timber.
Loose or Squeaky Boards: Boards that have come loose from the joists or are causing irritating squeaks can often be re-secured, tightened, and fastened properly to eliminate movement.
Gaps: While gap filling is part of our comprehensive service, individual boards that have simply shrunk, creating larger gaps, are excellent candidates for replacement.
Fireplace Hearth Removal: When a fireplace hearth is removed, it often leaves a void where floorboards were never installed or were cut. We can expertly infill these areas with matching reclaimed pine, seamlessly integrating the repair with the existing floor.
Our assessment process will clearly identify what can be repaired, ensuring you get the most cost-effective and authentic restoration possible.
When floorboards should not be repaired?
Nominal Thickness: Originally, in residential properties floorboards were laid in 20 mm thickness. Pine timber shrinks with age and changes volume. Each restoration takes approx. 1-2 mm from the thickness of the boards. When floorboards reach thickness closer to 15 mm, they will become weaker and fragile to splits, cracks and damage. In such case new flooring installation should be considered, rather than investing in repairs.
Significant Uneveness: The coarse abrasives of the sanding equipment can remove significant amount from the surface of the floorboards and help out of the levelling of the floors throughout. However, there is a limit. Difference of over 3 mm between the boards can make the sanding impossible.
Talk To Us for Advice or Site Survey
At Floorworks, we are committed to elevating the standards of the flooring trade. With our specialised original floorboards restoration service, you're not just investing in a new floor; you're preserving the unique history and character of your property, ensuring a beautiful and enduring feature for years to come.
Our Commitment to Floorboard Restoration
The restoration of original pine floorboards is one of the most common types of wood floor repairs we undertake. This is largely due to their historical tendency to be covered, making the extent of any hidden damage difficult to assess beforehand. However, our experienced team always comes prepared for comprehensive wood floor repairs, ensuring a thorough and professional restoration. Our process is designed to address every aspect of your floorboards' condition, from initial assessment to the final protective finish.
A Detailed Look at Our Repairs Process…
Initial Assessment and Floorboard Replacement (When Necessary): Our restoration journey begins with a detailed assessment of your pine floorboards. This allows us to determine their thickness and identify any areas that require repair or full replacement due to damage, rot, or excessive wear. While our aim is always to preserve as much of the original timber as possible, replacement is sometimes essential for the floor's long-term integrity and aesthetic appeal.
For seamless integration, we meticulously source reclaimed and seasoned pine floorboards from specialised reclaimation yards and timber mills. This ensures that the new timbers perfectly match the age, type, and appearance of your existing floorboards, resulting in a cohesive and authentic finish throughout your restored floor. This careful matching is crucial, as the character of old pine cannot be replicated with new materials.
Subfloor and Joist Inspection: A stable foundation is critical for the longevity of your restored floor. As part of our comprehensive service, we carefully inspect the underlying joists for any signs of movement or instability. While Floorworks are flooring specialists, not structural engineers, we are adept at identifying potential issues and can provide expert advice on necessary improvements.
Comprehensive Restoration Techniques: Once any necessary repairs and structural considerations are addressed, the transformation of your original pine floorboards truly begins with our full restoration service, which includes next steps in the process: expert dust-free floor sanding, gap filling, wood floor staining and sealing.
Why Original Pine Floorboards Can Vary in Colour?
Original pine floorboards can exhibit variations in type and natural color, primarily due to the specific species of pine used, its age, and how it was cut and treated.
Species of Pine: While often broadly referred to as "pine," historically, various pine species were used for floorboards in the UK, including Scots Pine, Baltic Pine, Pitch Pine, Douglas Fir and other softwoods. Each can have slightly different grain patterns and natural hues ranging from light yellow, to dark brown and pink.
Age and Patina: The most significant factor influencing the color of original pine floorboards is their age and the natural oxidation process. Over decades, pine develops a rich, warm honey-gold to amber patina. This deepens over time and exposure to light, creating a unique character that new timber simply cannot replicate.
Previous Treatments: Any historical finishes, waxes, or stains applied to the floorboards will also impact their current color before restoration. These are typically removed during our sanding process.
During our assessment, we take these variations into account. Our use of reclaimed and seasoned pine floorboards is specifically chosen because these timbers have undergone similar aging processes, allowing them to blend seamlessly with your existing, naturally patinated floorboards. After sanding, the natural color of the pine will be revealed, which then can be further enhanced or altered with our wood floor staining service to achieve your desired aesthetic.
We Serve Diverse Clientelle
Our services cater to residential, business, organisations and industrial clients. Whether you're a homeowner looking to restore your period property, a business owner seeking to revitalise your commercial space, or a school in need of robust flooring solutions, Floorworks has the expertise and resources to meet your specific requirements.
Why Trust Floorworks with Your Floorboard Repairs?
Choosing Floorworks for your victorian floorboards restoration means partnering with a company that stands for unparalleled quality, customer satisfaction, and a seamless service experience.
- Unrivaled Expertise and Experience: Established in 2009, Floorworks operates as a network of local flooring professionals, bringing extensive experience in both flooring retail and services. Our team comprises skilled, experienced, and trustworthy local flooring experts who undergo a rigorous selection process to ensure the highest standards of workmanship. We have comprehensive experience in the restoration of various wooden flooring types, including parquet, engineered wood, and hardwood flooring.
- Adherence to Quality Standards: Our company values—proficiency, efficiency, and honesty—are deeply embedded in every project we undertake, guaranteeing superior performance. We are dedicated to surpassing industry standards, and our code of conduct emphasizes not only technical expertise but also a friendly customer approach, meticulous attention to detail, and precision.
- Transparent and Competitive Pricing: We believe in delivering exceptional flooring services at an affordable rate. Our quoting process is quick and straightforward, providing transparent, itemized, and detailed quotes. This empowers our customers to fully understand the processes, materials involved, and the specifications of products used.
- Dedicated Customer Support: Our flooring fitting and restoration services are backed by a friendly customer service team. This team has undergone thorough industry training, enabling them to answer any technical questions and provide effective support throughout your entire flooring project.
- Robust Service Guarantee: We are confident in the quality of our work. Our restoration services are backed by a 3-month guarantee, underscoring our commitment to quality and client satisfaction. Should any aspect of our restoration work not meet our high standards within this period, we will return to address and correct the issue, ensuring your complete satisfaction.
